Boat-propelling mechanism



Pa'tnted July 26, |898. S. S. STEVENS. BOAT PRUPELLING MECHANISM.

(Application led July 10, 1897.) (N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Wifgzsszs TN: Noam: Ferias co. PHOTO-umn.. WASHINGTON. u. c.

No. 607,965. Patented July 26, |898.

S. S. STEVENS.

BUAT PRDPELLING MECHANISM.

(Application med July 1o, 1897.) (N 0 M o d el.)

2 Sheets-Sheen 2.

SAMUEL s. sTEvENs, E roN'r ARENA, CALIFORNIA.

BOAT-PROPELLI-NG IVIECHANISIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,965, dated July 26,1898. Appncatidn tied July 1o, 1897. serial No. 644,142. uvomodei.)

T0 all whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Point Arena, in the countyof Mendocino and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Boat, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to boats more especially designed for lifesavingservice, its objects being to generally improve the structure of theboat, whereby it will be less liable to capsize and be more easilycontrolled, and also to provide means for manually propelling the boatin order that oars may be usually dispensed with. l propose, however, toequip the boat with oars for rowing and steering the boatin the eventthe propelling 4 and steering mechanisms should become inoperative fromany cause. These oars will be stored away beneath the seats or` in someother convenient part of the boat when not required for use.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of theseveral details of construction and combination of parts hereinafterfully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a boat embodyingmyinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 8 is a sectional sideelevation. Fig. 4 is avertical transverse section. Fig. 5 is a plan viewof the bracket carrying the bow-pulley detached.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in the severalfigures.

1 indicates the hull of the boat, which may be of any approved shape,and provided on its interior with seats 2, running longitudinally of theboat on each side, and with a se* ries of cross-seats 3. In closeproximity to each seat 3 is a drum 4, the shaft 5 of which is journaledin bearings 6. Each drum has a central dividing-iiange 7 and is fast onits shaft 5, and the shaft of each drum is provided at each end with acrank-handle 8. The crank-handles 8 are so arranged that they can beoperated by persons on the seats 3.

9 indicates a propeller the shaft-10 of which is journaled at one end inbearings 11 in the stern-post 12 of the boat and the other end inbearings 13 on the inside of the boat. A drum 14 is secured on the innerportion of and `on and off on the under side of said drums onA the otherside of said iianges.

The shaft 17 of the pulley 16 is journaled in bearings on a bracket 18,hingedat its lower end to the frame of the boat, as indicated at 19.Bolts 20 are firmly secured at one end in the frame of the boat, andtheir other ends pass loosely through openings inv the upper end of thebrace 18, and adjustingnuts 21 on the bolts serve to vary the positionof the brackets 18 and thereby regulate the tension of the wire rope 15.VFrom the foregoing it is evident that by operating the crank-handles 8to turn the drums 4 in one direction the propeller 9 will also beturned, and thereby propel the boat; also, that the propulsion, may bein either direction.`

The boat is provided at each end with a rudder 22 in order that thevessel maybe more easily controlled. The rudder-posts 23 are hinged inthe usual manner to the sternpost 12 and the prow 24, the latter beingpreferably formed on a straight line for this purpose. Each rudder-post23 is provided with a handle 25 at its upper end..` l

26 represents a box for the centerboard 27. The board is substantiallytriangular in form, with two of its edges 28 at a right angle to eachother, and the other edge 29 curved to form the arc of a circle of whichthe bolt 30 is the center. vThe bolt 30 serves as a pivot for the board27 and is secured in the box 26. Another bolt 'lat the opposite side ofthe box 26 is adaptedto engage a shoulder 32 on the curved edge 29 tolimit the downward movement of the board 27 when it swings on its pivot.A4 chain 33 serves as a means to elevate or lower the board 27 and isadapted to be engaged with a hook 34 on the box 26 to hold the board inany desired position.

35 represents floats, one of which extends longitudinally of the boat oneach side thereof immediately below the gunwale 36. These floats are toprevent the boat from capsizing and may be of cork, inflated rubberbags, or any other suitable buoyant material. Each is provided with alongitudinal rope 37 on its outer side, which may be termed achangrope,7 and is for the purpose of preventing injury to the floatfrom rubbing against any hard substance. A small rope 38 is wound aroundeach loat and through a series of openings 39 in the side of the boat,and at each turn around the iioat the rope 38 is given a halfhitcharound the rope 3.7, as indicated at 40, thereby firmly securing therope 37 in position on the lioat and also rmly securing the float to theboat.

4l indicates an iron keel which is firmly bolted to the wooden keel ofthe boat and serves as an additional preventive to the capsizing of theboat on account of the added Weight to the bottom of the boat.

In operation some members of the crew will operate the cranks 8 in orderto propel the boats and each of the rudders 22 will be under the controlof a separate member 'of the crew, and it is obvious that the boat canbe much more easily controlled by the two rudders than it could by one.As is well known, the loss or breaking of oars in lifeboats is a sourceof considerable annoyance and often danger, and frequently life-boatsare rendered inoperative through this cause. By dispensing with oars andusing the cranks to turn the propeller this danger is entirely obviated,and hence a boat made in accordance with my invention is a greatimprovement over one propelled by oars. It is also obvious that by usinga Iioat extending from end to end of the boat and secured immediatelyunder the gunwale it would be practically almost impossible to capsizethe boat, no matter how rough the sea might be.

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention. Forinstance, instead of the drums 4 being provided with a centraldividing-nan ge two separate drums connected together might beemployed'. In lieu of the precise manner of connecting the rope 38 tothe Charing-rope 37 other means may be employed. Hence I do not limitmyself to minute details.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim isl. In a boat,thecombination of a propeller, a drum rigid on the propeller-shaft, aseries of driving-drums arranged longitudinally of the boat and providedwith crank-handles, a pulley adjustably mounted at the bow of the boat,an endless rope passing around the propeller-drum, and the bow-pulleyand being reversely Wound on the driving-drums, and means to adjust thebow-pulleyto regulate the tension of the rope, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a boat, the combination of a propeller, a drum rigid on thepropeller-shaft, aseries of driving-drums arranged longitudinally of theboat and provided with crank-handles, each of said series of drumshaving a central dividing-flange, a hinged bracket at the bow of theboat, a pulley j ournaledin said bracket, an endlessrope passing aroundthe propellerdrum, the driving-drums and the bow-pulley, said ropepassing on and otl' the drivin g-druins at the upper side on one side ofthe dividingflange, and on and off the under side of said drums on theother side of said flanges, and means to adjust the hinged bracket,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL S. STEVENS.

v Witnesses:

ARTHUR Hicks, J RFFRRsoN M. BROWN.

